Vote-tallying register

ABSTRACT

A mechanical register of the pushbutton type for tallying votes and wherein the register and voting buttons are concealed within a housing, the device to be passed among the voters, each voter selectively actuating one of two pushbuttons to record his vote, and manually operated means on said housing connected with the register for resetting the actuated voting pushbutton before the housing is passed from the first to the second or next voter, and means on said housing operable to disclose the vote tally to a teller.

United States Patent llll 3,622,068

633,492 9/l899 Roser 235/55 837,04l ll/l906 Clark... 235/55 995,093 6/191 1 Prior 235/55 2,585,099 2/l952 Emmert 35/48 R X Primary Examiner Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal Attorney-Kimmel, Crowell & Weaver ABSTRACT: A mechanical register of the pushbutton type for tallying votes and wherein the register and voting buttons are concealed within a housing, the device to be passed among the voters, each voter selectively actuating one of two pushbuttons to record his vote, and manually operated means on said housing connected with the register for resetting the actuated voting pushbutton before the housing is passed from the first to the second or next voter, and means on said housing operable to disclose the vote tally to a teller.

PATENTEnuuv 23 Ian 3 ,522 05 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 INVENTOR OLIVER L. I. BROWN ATTORNEYS VOTE-TALLYING REGISTER BACKGROUND OF THE invention Description of the Prior Art The prior art discloses that voting boxes, per so, are not broadly new. As a matter of fact, an analogous device is disclosed in the US. Pat. to Prior, No. 995,093, which issued June 13, 191 l. Basically, this patentee discloses a voting box having an opening through which the voters hand may be inserted to selectively operate a YES or NO" voting button.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a vote-tallying register for use in the taking of secret ballots. It is one of the primary objects of this invention to provide such a register for counting cast ballots by a group of individuals, the collective size of which would not justify the purchase of an expensive mechanical or electrically operated vote-tallying register such as is employed in the taking of votes concerning local, state or federal questions.

It is customary, at the present time, for small groups of individuals organized for the promotion of a common cause to vote secret ballots which requires that blank slips of paper be passed out, one to each voter. The slips are marked in accordance with the desire of each individual, after which the slips are folded and then collected. Thereafter, the tellers must manually sort out the ballots and eventually count the Ayes" and/or nays. This is a simple and noncomplex method for obtainingthe vote of the assembly and making known the consensus of opinion on any given question or other matter properly before an organization. It is inexpensive, but time consuming, both in the actual voting phase of the cycle as well as in the later counting and tallying. The counting and tallying is also subject to human error, and in closely contested questions, the final tally is frequently subject matter for challenge.

The vote-tallying register according to the present invention employs conventional mechanical counters available on the open market and which areenclosed within a housing having an open end. The tellers first set both the Aye" and Nay counters to zero, the housing is then closed, and is handed to the first of the voting members. Each member will pass his hand through the open end'of the housingand will push either one of the two buttons to record his ballot. The actuated pushbutton is reset by a pair of actuators, one for each of the two voting pushbuttons, these actuators being externally manipulated. The housing is then passed to the next voter. The resetting is accomplished publicly and takes place in such a manner as to prevent any person other than the voter from determining exactly which way the ballot was cast. The device also contemplates the provision of means for preventing any person from twice voting without having to actuate the reset means making such an act obvious to other members present.

The total number of votes capable of being tallied is, of course, restricted only to the capacity of the counter means.

Among the primary objects of this invention is to provide a vote-tallying register of the type to which general reference has been made above, the register being noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and one which is rugged and durable in actual use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in the light of the annexed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a vote-tallying register constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the register shown in FIG. I, the sidewalls shown in full lines concealing the vote tally, and when moved to the dotted line-positions thereof, exposing the tally;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1, a sidewall having been removed to expose the vote-tallying assembly at one side of the register;

FIG. 4 is a transverse medial cross-sectional view of one of two vote-tallying assemblies as modified in accordance with this invention, FIG. 4 being-taken substantially on the vertical plane of line-44 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the vote-tallying as sembly, this view being taken on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the pushbutton operators in their normal outwardly extended positions;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of one of the vote tally assemblies, partly broken away and in cross section to illustrate certain components thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, this view illustrating the relative positionsof certain components of the vote-tallying assembly after a single ballot has been cast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a vote-tallying register constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The register 10 is seen to comprise a substantially hollow rectangular housing 12 which includes a pair of parallel elongated confronting rectangular end walls l4, 16 each having an adjacent end fixedly connected to an elongated substantially rectangular base wall 18 adjacent, respectively, each end thereof.

Reference numerals 20, 22 each denote an elongated substantially rectangular sidewall of sufiicient length so as to span between the end walls l4, l6 and of such width as to extend between the base wall 18 and the lower ends of the end walls 14, 16. One end of each of the sidewalls 20, 22 is hingedly connected by hinge means 24,26 of conventional type, the hinge means in this instance being illustrated as comprising an adhesively connected cloth tape. The construction is such as to permit the sidewalls 20, 22 to move or pivot outwardly from their full line positions shown in FIG. 2 to their dotted line positions shown therein in order that (1) the tally indicators of the register may beconcealed while voting is being completed, and (2) to permit the sidewalls 20, 22 to be moved to their dotted line position in order that the teller may read the complete tally from the register means when the voting has been completed. As is seen in the drawing, the hinge means 24, 26 both connect to the common end wall l4. That end of the housing 12 oppositely disposed with respect to the base wall 18 is open as at 28 (see FIG. 3) to serve a function to be described infra.

Reference numerals 30, 32 each denote, respectively, a vote tally assembly of conventional construction and which are commercially available. The vote tally assemblies 30, 32 are sold in the United States under the Federal Trademark Registration SUPER ADD-A-MATIC." Since cost is an important factor in connection with the successful exploitation of most inventions, it is here noted that each of the. vote tally assemblies was purchased for 0.55, each.

Each of the tally assemblies is provided with an elongated substantially. hollow rectangular casing 34 (see FIG. 4), each casing having a backwall 36, an opposed confronting front wall 38, a pair of opposed and substantially parallel sidewalls 40, 42, and a pair of opposed and confronting parallel end walls 44, 46. The backwalls 36 of each of the casings 34 are superimposed, respectively, on opposite sides of an elongated substantially rectangular spacer block 48. The spacer block 48 conforms in length and width with the corresponding dimensions of the casings 34. Adhesive or other conventional securing means may be used to fixedly connect the superimposed components on the described spacer block.

Before proceeding further with the description of the assembly of the apparatus of this invention, it should be here noted that before further assembly steps are undertaken, and

even prior to the time the assemblies 30, 32 are connected with the spacer block 48, each of the assemblies is modified.

Referring specifically to FIG. of the drawing, each pushbutton 50, 52 is connected with one end of an elongated substantially rigid neck 54, 56, respectively, and these necks reciprocate through openings 58, 60 formed in the sidewall 40 and which communicate with the interior of the casing 34. The inner ends of the necks 54, 56 are rigidly connected with a bight 62, 64, respectively, of counter actuators 66, 68. Each of the counter actuators 66, 68 and their connected pushbutton and neck are spring biased to their upward and operative position shown in FIG. 5 as by means of a helical spring 70. Only one such spring is shown in FIG. 5, the other having been removed from the assembly constituting the modification referred to above, and which serves a function to be described. Each spring 70 normally has one of its ends abutting the sidewall 42 while its other end extends through a substantially hollow tubular arm 72 depending from one end of the bight 62 and engages against a transversely extending shoulder 74. The counter actuator 66 is, thus, constantly biased to its uppermost position such biasing force is not applied to the counter actuator 68.

The counter actuator 68 includes an elongated hollow tubular arm 76 which is integrally connected and which depends from one end of the bight 64. The arm 76 is provided with a transversely extending shoulder 78 corresponding to the shoulder 74. In line with the lower end of the hollow tubular arm 76 is a transverse opening 80 formed in the sidewall 42. The function of this opening will be described below.

It will be understood that each of the vote tally assemblies 30, 32 is modified in the manner described above.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the vote tally assemblies 30, 32 are secured on the spacer block 48 in such a manner that the pushbuttons 50, 52 of the assembly 30 project laterally beyond the adjacent side of the spacer block 48 while the corresponding pushbuttons 50A, 52A of the assembly 32 project laterally beyond the opposed side of the spacer block 48. The width of the superimposed vote tally assemblies 30, 32 and the spacer block 48 is equal to, substantially, the distance between the confronting sides of the sidewalls 20, 22 when the same are in their closed full line positions. One of the ends of the superimposed vote tally assemblies 30, 32 and the adjacent end of the spacer block 48 are fixedly secured as by any suitable adhesive 82, or by other means conventional in the art, to the underside of the base wall 18 intermediate the ends thereof. Also secured to the underside of the base wall 18, spaced inwardly from each end thereof, is a spacer block 87, 87A, respectively, and fixedly secured to the spacer blocks are one of the ends of a pair of divider walls 86, 84, respectively, having a rectangular configuration and extend substantially parallel to the base wall 18 in vertically spaced relation relative thereto and perpendicularly with respect to the end walls 14, 16. The other ends of the divider walls 84, 86 extend to and engage against the adjacent sides of the assemblies 30, 32 and the spacer block 48, and are interposed between the pushbuttons 50, 50A and 52, 52A to limit access for the purpose of voting only to pushbuttons 52, 52A. Conventional means (not shown) may also secure the upper ends ofthe end walls 14, 16 to the adjacent ends of the spacer blocks 87, 87A and divider walls 86, 84, respectively, to provide the construction with rigidity.

Now it will be recalled that each of the vote tally assemblies 30, 32 has been defined as having an opening formed in their respective walls 42. Such openings are aligned with openings 88, 90 which extend transversely through, respectively, the end walls 14, 16. Each of the openings 88, 90 receives therethrough and has secured therein one end of an elongated substantially hollow tubular barrel 92A, 92, respectively, the other end of each barrel terminating in a frustoconical sidewall 94, 94A. Since the construction of each of the barrels 92, 92A is identical, reference will now be specifically made to the barrel 92 shown in FIG. 5.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the outer end of the frustoconical side wall 94 is open in the plane of its frustum, and the opposed end of the barrel 92 is closed as at 96 by means of any suitable closure wall. The closure wall 96 is provided with the transversely extending opening 98 aligned with the open end of the sidewall 94.

Reference numeral 100 designates an elongated rod mounted for reciprocation within the barrel 92, the rod 100 having opposed ends reciprocating through the opening 98 and the open end of the sidewall 94.

Disposed in the barrel 92 and fixedly secured on the rod 100 is a substantially cylindrical plate 102, and surrounding the rod 100 with one of its ends abutting against the plate 102 is a helicoidal spring 104. The other end of the spring 104 abuts against the sidewall 94. As is seen in FIG. 5, the outer end of the rod 100 terminates in a reset button 106. Again, and from the standpoint of economics, the barrel 92, the rod 100 and the spring 104 were actually constructed using corresponding parts from commercial spring-type plastic cup ballpoint pens.

Pressure on the button 106 will cause the rod 100 to move vertically, reference being had to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in such manner as to cause the inner end of the rod 100 to enter the hollow tubular arm 76 for engagement against its shoulder 78. If the rod 100 and the actuator 68 are in their positions shown in FIG. 5, this movement of the rod will have no effect. If, however, the pushbutton 52 has been pushed downwardly, again reference being made to FIG. 5, the actuator 68 will assume the position shown in FIG. 7. Now if the rod 100 is pushed upwardly, in the manner suggested above, the inner end of the rod in engaging the shoulder 78 will cause the actuator 68 to move from its position shown in FIG. 7 and to return to its position shown in FIG. 5. If the rod 100 then be thereafter released, the spring 104 will return the same to its position of FIG. 5.

Each of the vote tally assemblies is, as has been stated above, identical in construction. Therefore, and referring only to the construction of the assembly 30 shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it is seen that each of the actuators 66, 68 further includes a substantially U-shaped lever including an arm 110, 112 which depends from the bights 62, 64 respectively. Each lever further includes bight portions 112, 114 and an upwardly turned second arm 118, 120, respectively, the second arms confronting the first arms 110, 112 which depend from their respective bights 62, 64. The upper ends of each of the arms 118, terminate in a pawl 122, 124, respectively. These pawls 122, 124 project forwardly relative to the back wall 36 and are disposed substantially perpendicular thereto.

Disposed between each hollow tubular arm 72, 76 and the adjacent confronting one of the arms 118, 120, respectively, and integrally formed with the backwall 36 is a shaft 126, 128, respectively.

Mounted on the shaft 128 is a compound ratchet wheel and digit bearing disk generally indicated by reference numeral 130. The first of the ratchet wheels is identified by reference numeral 132 and as is seen in the drawing this wheel is provided with 10 equally spaced peripheral teeth 134. The wheel 132 includes a hub 136 (see FIG. 4) in which is fitted a second hub 138 which telescopes over the shaft 128. The first and second hubs 136, 138 are keyed together as at 140, and the second hub is integral with a second ratchet wheel 142 having teeth 144 formed thereon at equally spaced intervals. Following the ratchet wheel 142 outwardly on the shaft 128 and mounted for rotation thereon is a digit bearing disk 146. The disk 146 is keyed or otherwise fixedly connected to the ratchet wheel 142 to rotate therewith. The disk 146 will bear the indicia numerals 148 thereon, the numerals being circumferentially spaced around the front face of the disk 146 at equally spaced intervals and will include the numbers 0-l2 -7-8-The arrangement is such that these numerals will appear in the window 150 formed in the front wall 38 of the cusing 34 for the assembly 30.

The teeth 134 of the first ratchet wheel 132 are consecutively engaged by the pawl 124 which normally locks behind one thereof. Consequently, and referring to FIG. 5 of the drawing, downward movement of the pushbutton 52, the neck 56 and the actuator 68 will cause the arms 112 and 120 to move downwardly and in so moving the pawl pulls against the adjacent one of the teeth 132 causing the compound ratchet wheel and digit bearing disk 130 to rotate. The arms 112, 120 are'formed of a resilient material whereby the am 120 may flex slightly inwardly in the direction of the arm 112 as the rotation is effected. The distance of arcuate rotation will be equal to the spacing between each of the numerical indicia, and the rotation of the compound ratchet wheel and digit bearing disk 130 is halted when the lower end of the tubular arm 76 engages the sidewall 42. Return of the actuator 68 to its uppermost position, or the resetting of this actuator, is accomplished by pushing inwardly on the reset buttonl06 causing the rod 100 to move inwardly in its barrel 92 whereby the inner end of the rod 100 is caused to engage against the shoulder 78 and to push thereon to effect the raising of the actuator 68 and the consequent return of the pushbutton 52 to its original position shown in FIG. 5.

A boss 152 is integral with the backwall 36 and projects laterally and forwardly therefrom. Set into the boss 152 is one end of an elongated leaf spring 154 having a lateral projection 156 which is adapted to engage behind another one of the teeth 134- and to thereby hold the compound assembly 130 against rotation in a reverse direction. In effect, the spring 154 and its lateral projection 156 constitute a one-way or slip clutch.

At 160 is denoted a second compound ratchet wheel and digit bearing disk. The compound device 160 includes the third and fourth ratchet wheels 162, 164 which are keyed together in the manner heretofore described for simultaneous rotation on the shaft 126. The outer side of the ratchet wheel 162 has fixedly secured thereon for rotation therewith the disk 166 (see FIG. 3) having circumferentiallyspaced numerical indicia I68 thereon disposed on a side thereof at equally spaced circumferential intervals. In this instance, the numerical indicia will read, consecutively from -l-2-3-l7-l8-l9. In FIG. 3 of the drawing vote tally assembly is reading the nu meral 12. The assembly 30 (as well as the assembly'32) may be set to read 0-0 and will tally up to I99 votes.

Transferfrom the single unit counter 30 to the tens counter 32 is accomplished by fonning an integrally fonned tongue l70'on the wheel 142 and positioning the same intermediate the latter and the wheel 132(The tongue 170 extends radially a sufficientdistance so as to engage with one of the teeth 172 formed on the ratchet wheel 162. This engagement and disengagement from the teeth 172 occurs once during each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel I42 and, thus, becomes activated upon every tenth actuation of the actuator 68.

While not illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that the pawl 122 engages behind one of the teeth I74 formed on the ratchet wheel 164 whereby downward movement of the actuator 66 will cause the'pawl 122 to turn the second compound ratchet wheel and digit bearing disk 160 an arcuate distance sufficient to advance the indicia 168 to the next higher number. The actuator 66 is returned to its set position shown in FIG. 5 by the spring 70 which extends through the tubular arm 72 to abut against the shoulder 74.

The components of the vote tally assembly 32 are exactly as those described in connection with the vote tally assembly 30 and, consequently, need no reiteration at this point, and components of the assembly 32 finding illustrated counterparts in the assembly 30 have been assigned the same reference numeral but to which there has been applied the additional letter A. The vote-tallying register device is completed by encircling the end walls ]4, l6 and the sidewalls 20, 22 with an elastic band 176, and the opposed ends of the sidewalls 20, 22 are made to bear, respectively, the legends No" and Yes. This is to indicate to the voter at which end of the device 10 is located the voting pushbutton to be actuated to cast his ballot.

Having described and illustrated this invention in detail, its operation will now be related.

Assuming that the vote-tallying register 10 and its component parts are all as is illustrated in FIGS. 1. 2, 3 and 5, and that the device has been set so that the figures 0 are registering with the windows 150, 169 and 150A and 169A, this being accomplished by the tellers, the register 10 is handed to the first of the voters who then reach in and push either the button 52 for an affirmative vote or the button 52A to register a negative vote. As has been explained above, and assuming the button 52 is pushed downwardly, the actuator 68 moves downwardly to pull the pawl 124 downwardly therewith; this causes the ratchet wheel 142 to advance in a clockwise direction, reference being made to FIG. 5, to bring the numeral 1 into the window 150. Since the voter's hand substantially fills the open end 28 of the device 10 it is practically impossible for a person proximate the first voter to determine how the first voters ballot was cast.

After casting his ballot, the first voter pushes inwardly on both reset buttons 106, 106A, and under the described circumstances, the inner end of the rod will engage the shoulder 78 causing the actuator 68 to move upwardly from its position shown in FIG. 7 to is position shown in FIG. 5 and simultaneously raises the button 52 for actuation by the next voter. The rod 100 returns to its position shown in FIG. 5 under the influence of the spring 104. Here again, the next voter will have no idea which of the two pushbuttons 106, 106A actually effected the resetting of the device.

The device or register 10 is now passed to the next voter who repeats the above-described voting process.

When all of the votes-have been taken, the register 10 is handed to a teller who will then remove the elastic band 176 and will pivot first one or the other of the sidewalls 20, 22 from their full-line positions shown in FIG. 2 to their dottedline positions also illustrated therein. The tally as registered in the windows 150, 169 and A, 169A may now be read. The teller then resets the register to 0-0 by pushing inwardly on the pushbuttons 50, 50A and alternately on the pushbuttons 52. 52A and 106, 106A. Thereafter the sidewalls 20, 22 are moved to their closed positions across the windows I50. I69 and 150A, 169A, and the elastic band 176 is replaced in its position shown in FIG. I.

In the above specification the tenns vertical," "horizontal and similar related terminology are used merely as a frame of reference with respect to the disclosure as is illustrated in the drawing, and these tenns are not to be construed as limitations.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of-this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vote tally register for secretly recording a voter's ballot for or against a givenproposal and to provide a record of the total vote, said register comprising:

a housing having-a base wall, a pair of first end walls, each of said end walls being fixedly connected on, respectively, one end of said base wall to project laterally in one direction therefrom in spaced confronting and substantially parallel relationship relative to one another, a pair of sidewalls extending between and spanning said end walls at their respective opposed sides, said housing being open at that side thereof opposite said base wall, and hinge means pivotally connected to an adjacent pair of ends of said sidewalls on one of said end walls, the opposed adjacent free ends of said sidewalls being selectively pivotal to close against the other of said first end walls in their respective spanning closed positions and to pivot away therefrom to a second open position;

vote tally assembly means disposed in said housing and means for securing said assembly in said housing;

said vote tally assembly means including digit bearing indicia and indicating means, reciprocable pushbutton means disposed in said housing and being preset in a first position and being manually movable, selectively, in a first direction to a second position in said housing as a voter casts his ballot for or against a given proposal, reciprocable actuating means connected on said indicia bearing means, and with said pushbutton means and being movable therewith in said first direction of movement to consecutively advance said indicia bearing means as said pushbutton means is moved in said one direction from its said first to its second said position;

manually operable reset means mounted for reciprocation through each of said first end walls and engageable in one direction of its movement with said actuating means to move said actuator and pushbutton means in the opposite direction to reset said pushbutton means in its said first position;

said sidewalls extending in their closed positions across said indicia bearing and indicator means and concealing the tally of the votes cast; and

said sidewalls being movable to their open positions to expose said tally.

2. The register as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said assembly means includes a casing for said indicia bearing means and said actuator means;

said casing including opposed front and back walls, opposed sidewalls, and opposed end walls; and

said front wall extending across said digit bearing indicia means and having an opening formed therein framing each digit separately as said pushbutton means is operated to move in its said one direction, said opening comprising said indicating means.

3. The register as defined in claim 2 and:

resilient means connected with said reset means to move said reset means in the opposite direction to effect its disconnection from said actuator means.

4. The register defined in claim 3 wherein:

said reset means comprises an elongated rod for, respectively, each of said endwalls, said rods having portions thereof extending on opposite sides of their associated end wall.

5. The register as defined in claim 4 wherein:

two vote tally assemblies of identical construction are included in said register, said vote tally assemblies being selectively operable to tally a ballot cast for or against said given proposal, respectively.

6. The register as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said vote tally assemblies include second indicia bearing means;

transfer means on said first indicia bearing means engaging said second indicia bearing means for operating said second indicia bearing means every tenth time said pushbutton means is moved from its said first to its second position.

7. The register as defined in claim 6 wherein:

means is provided for resetting said second indicia bearing means.

8. The register as defined in claim 7 wherein:

means is provided for releasably securing said first sidewalls in their respective closed positions. 

1. A vote tally register for secretly recording a voter''s ballot for or against a given proposal and to provide a record of the total vote, said register comprising: a housing having a base wall, a pair of first end walls, each of said end walls being fixedly connected on, respectively, one end of said base wall to project laterally in one direction therefrom in spaced confronting and substantially parallel relationship relative to one another, a pair of sidewalls extending between and spanning said end walls at their respective opposed sides, said housing being open at that side thereof opposite said base wall, and hinge means pivotally connected to an adjacent pair of ends of said sidewalls on one of said end walls, the opposed adjacent free ends of said sidewalls being selectively pivotal to close against the other of said first end walls in their respective spanning closed positions and to pivot away therefrom to a second open position; vote tally assembly means disposed in said housing and means for securing said assembly in said housing; said vote tally assembly means including digit bearing indicia and indicating means, reciprocable pushbutton means disposed in said housing and being preset in a first position and being manually movable, selectively, in a first direction to a second position in said housing as a voter casts his ballot for or against a given proposal, reciprocable actuating means connected on said indicia bearing means, and with said pushbutton means and being movable therewith in said first direction of movement to consecutively advance said indicia bearing means as said pushbutton means is moved in said one direction from its said first to its second said position; manually operable reset means mounted for reciprocation through each of said first end walls and engageable in one direction of its movement with said actuating means to move said actuator and pushbutton means in the opposite direction to reset said pushbutton means in its said first position; said sidewalls extending in their closed positions across said indicia bearing and indicator means and concealing the tally of the votes cast; and said sidewalls being movable to their open positions to expose said tally.
 2. The register as defined in claim 1 wherein: said assembly means includes a casing for said indicia bearing means and said actuator means; said casing including opposed front and back walls, opposed sidewalls, and opposed end walls; and said front wall extending across said digit bearing indicia means and having an opening formed therein framing each digit separately as said pushbutton means is operated to move in its said one direction, said opening comprising said indicating means.
 3. The register as defined in claim 2 and: resilient means connected with said reset means to move said reset means in the opposite direction to effect its disconnection from said actuator means.
 4. The register defined in claim 3 wherein: said reseT means comprises an elongated rod for, respectively, each of said end walls, said rods having portions thereof extending on opposite sides of their associated end wall.
 5. The register as defined in claim 4 wherein: two vote tally assemblies of identical construction are included in said register, said vote tally assemblies being selectively operable to tally a ballot cast for or against said given proposal, respectively.
 6. The register as defined in claim 5 wherein: said vote tally assemblies include second indicia bearing means; transfer means on said first indicia bearing means engaging said second indicia bearing means for operating said second indicia bearing means every tenth time said pushbutton means is moved from its said first to its second position.
 7. The register as defined in claim 6 wherein: means is provided for resetting said second indicia bearing means.
 8. The register as defined in claim 7 wherein: means is provided for releasably securing said first sidewalls in their respective closed positions. 